Supervisor in Smyrna, town board in Norwich among Chenango’s races

NORWICH – Today’s primary is not just a race for Chenango County Court Judge. Registered Republican, Conservative or Independence Party voters in Norwich, Bainbridge, Guilford and Smyrna need be particularly mindful of the candidates vying for government seats in their locales.

That’s not to mention that incumbent New York State Senator James L. Seward, who represents Chenango County in the 51st District, is facing competition from James W. Blake for the Republican Party’s nomination.

For the City of Norwich, Republicans Thomas R. LoPiccolo, 52, and Daniel J. Palmer, 32, hope to fill a one-year term as Ward 6 Alderman. The council position came about in January after former Alderman Robert M. Jeffrey was elected Chenango County Supervisor for Wards 4, 5 and 6. LoPiccolo, through an appointment, is presently filling the vacancy. (See related city race story for candidates’ comments.)

In the Town of Bainbridge, Republicans David A. DeClue and Kenneth Harvey are running to fill a three-year term on the town board. DeClue, 66, retired in 2011 after a long career practicing law in the town. He became Bainbridge Town Attorney in 1974, and served every supervisor over the following 30 years. He has also been a municipal attorney for the villages of Bainbridge, Afton and Sidney and is currently a director of the Bainbridge Development Corporation.

DeClue said he enjoys being involved in town matters, and would be an active voice in the management of natural gas drilling for Bainbridge should it be permitted by Governor Cuomo and the state’s environmental regulators.